Digital natives, higher risk: Young Australians most vulnerable to scams during life's biggest moments, TrendLife research reveals

Sydney, 30 June 2026 — Scammers are targeting Australians during key life moments, including major purchases, job hunting and navigating tax time, according to new research from TrendLife, the consumer business unit of Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704).

The global Digital Life and AI Experiences study gathered responses from more than 10,000 consumers across nine markets, including over 1,000 Australians. It found that one in five Australians reported being scammed, or knowing someone close to them who was, while making a major purchase or investment such as a car or property (20%). This was followed by job interview processes (18%), applying for government benefits or income tax support (17%), moving to a new address or location (15%), beginning a new job or contract position (13%) and buying or selling a house (13%).

Many Australians are navigating these moments online, often under pressure and with limited familiarity, with close to two in five (38%) using AI tools to support major life events and almost half (49%) sharing personal information as part of these processes. While older Australians are often perceived as most vulnerable to digital risks, the research found that people aged 25 to 34 years old experienced scams during significant purchases or investments at more than twice the rate of other age groups.

“Major life moments like job interviews or buying a house often involve big decisions and unfamiliar parties,” said Lynette Owens, Vice President of Consumer Education & Marketing at TrendLife. “That’s exactly what scammers exploit. These attacks feel more convincing because they’re tied to real events in people’s lives, when they are already sharing sensitive information.”

“As more of these life moments move online, digital literacy becomes critical. Australians need to know how to verify who they are dealing with, be wary of messages designed to create urgency, and slow down before acting,” said Owens.

Younger Australians take more risks despite higher digital fluency

Despite their familiarity with digital tools, younger Australians are less likely to take basic safety precautions when sharing personal information during major life moments. Among Australians aged 18–24:

• only 8% verified whether an organisation is legitimate, compared to 22% overall
• just 4% used an identity protection service, compared to 11% overall
• only 17% enabled or updated their privacy and security settings, compared to 29% overall
• 33% used up-to-date security software, compared to 44% overall
• 33% avoided public Wi-Fi networks, compared to 45% overall

Cybersecurity habits also remain inconsistent across older generations. Australians over 65 are the least likely to carefully check website URLs or use secure websites (27% vs 40% overall), while those aged 55–64 are least likely to monitor bank or online accounts for suspicious activity (33% vs 44% overall).

More broadly, more than one in four (28%) Australians do not use security or antivirus software on their personal computer, while 59% do not use protection on their personal mobile device.

Confidence and awareness not keeping pace with evolving threats

As AI tools become more widely used, many Australians remain uncertain about how to identify emerging digital threats and protect their personal information.

When it comes to spotting AI-generated scams and deepfakes, 21% say they are not confident they could identify an AI-generated scam, while 22% are very or extremely confident.

Awareness of AI-related privacy risks is similarly uneven, with 32% reporting they are either unaware of the risks of sharing personal information with AI tools or unsure of the specifics.

Concern, however, is high:

• 44% are very or extremely concerned about the safety of information shared with AI tools, higher than the global average of 38%, and rising to 57% among over-65s
• 50% are very or extremely concerned someone could misuse information shared with AI tools, also higher than the global average of 44%.
• Despite this, only 35% decline to allow their information to be used to train AI models.

“AI is quickly becoming part of how Australians make decisions and manage important life moments, but it isn’t risk-free.Consumers need to be careful about the personal information they share with AI tools, particularly when it relates to finances or their identity. AI can be incredibly useful, but Australians should consider where their information is going and when to seek a trusted source before acting on AI-generated advice,” said Owens.

Learn more about the findings in TrendLife’s Digital Life and AI Experiences study.

Methodology

The research was conducted by TrendLife between March 25–April 3, 2026, among 10,350 consumers aged 18+ in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including 1,038 in Australia. Data has been weighted to be nationally representative of each country by age, gender, and household income.